AGRA and Farm Radio International (FRI) have announced a partnership that will see both organizations harness the power of the media to improve food systems on the African continent. Under the partnership, AGRA and FRI’s Just Communication department will work to ensure that farmers, youth, and women are not just heard, but are central to decision-making in the food systems sector.
“Together, we are building a bridge between farmer realities and policy action to make Africa’s food systems inclusive, resilient, and youth-driven,” Director of Communications, Innovations, Advocacy, and External Relations at AGRA, Aggie Konde, said at the ceremony to announce the partnership during the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal.
She noted it’s time for food systems stakeholders to prioritize the media as a tool for driving investments in the agricultural sector. “Unless we bring the urgency to telling the story that matters to Africans, the urgency will never be realized. And that will mean we will not see the kind of investments in agriculture we are looking for… We need to take the conversation where it matters most,” she said. She described the media as a catalyst that shapes public opinion, drives accountability, and influences agricultural policies.
Head of Just Communication, Benjamin Fiafor explained that the partnership will connect farmers, youth, women, and policymakers through coordinated storytelling and innovative communication platforms. Both organizations will also work to ensure that policies and investments in the food systems sector are rooted in real voices, needs, and opportunities of farmers and rural dwellers.
Speaking at the event, former Member of Parliament for Petauke Central in Zambia Dr. Dora Siliya noted that the media plays a central role in shaping the narratives that drive budgets, reforms, and policies. She called on policymakers to listen to stories from farmers and youth to design responsive and accountable policies.
Head of Program Development and Network Initiatives at Farm Radio International, Gertrude Nalubinga Mwebaza, said radio remains the most trusted and accessible medium for rural communities to access quality information. She noted that when farmers’ voices are amplified through interactive radio, it drives accountability and policy responsiveness at all levels.
Adjaratou Kosse Faye Guindo, a farmer and Member of the AgriInfluencer Network said as youth and women in agriculture, visibility is key to accessing markets, finance, and influence. She said media creates opportunities for a new generation of farmers to be seen as leaders and entrepreneurs. Vice President of Communications at Emerging Ag Inc., Waiganjo Njoroge, urged journalists and media outlets to humanize stories about the agricultural sector, emphasizing that compelling, relatable storytelling is key to addressing challenges within food systems.
